Laboratory Lab results are too important to go anywhere else.

Plasma Hemoglobin, Whole Blood

Plasma Hemoglobin (Free Hemoglobin)

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB5100, Beaker: PLHGB, Antrim: 13395

Department

Chemistry

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One Green-top Lithium Heparin tube. (Minimum Whole Blood: 4.0 mL)
Also acceptable: One Green-top Sodium Heparin or Green-top Lithium Heparin PST (Minimum Whole Blood: 4.0 mL)

• An evacuated tube and 21-gauge needle must be used to draw the specimen.
• This specimen should be drawn with considerable care to prevent artifactual hemolysis of the specimen.
• Transport specimen to the Laboratory immediately after collection.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Plasma that has been allowed to sit on the cells may have falsely elevated plasma hemoglobin. Specimens must be double-centrifuged.

1. Centrifuge to separate plasma from cells immediately after collection.
2. Transfer plasma to a plastic aliquot tube and centrifuge the aliquot tube.

Transfer plasma from the centrifuged aliquot tube to a fresh aliquot tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Plasma aliquot, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 1.0 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Specimens drawn in EDTA and citrated plasma tubes.
• Specimens known to have been drawn without the above precautions, or otherwise not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Plasma that has been allowed to sit on the cells may have falsely elevated plasma hemoglobin. Specimens must be double-centrifuged.

1. Centrifuge to separate plasma from cells immediately after collection.
2. Transfer plasma to a plastic aliquot tube and centrifuge the aliquot tube.

Test specimen immediately.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Cell-Free Plasma
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2-4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days

Laboratory

Royal Oak Automated Chemistry Laboratory

Performed

Sunday – Saturday, 24 hours a day.
Results available within 24 hours.

Reference Range

<30 mg/dL.

Test Methodology

Spectrophotometry.

Interpretation

This assay should not be performed on serum since a small amount of hemoglobin is released from red blood cells during clotting.

Clinical Utility

This assay is useful for determining whether hemolysis is occurring in vivo. Plasma hemoglobin is increased with intravascular hemolysis, ABO incompatible transfusion, falciparum malaria, burns and march hemoglobinuria. Slight increases may occur with extravascular hemolysis, delayed transfusion reactions, and sickle cell anemia.

CPT Codes

83051
LOINC: 35183-3

Contacts

Last Updated

10/16/2023